Case



March 26, 1946. A SQHWARTZ 2,397,439

' I CASE Filed Jan. 29, 1944 INVENTOR BY MW ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 26, 1946 @UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CASE 7 Arthur J. Schwartz, New York, N. Y. Application January 29, 1944, Serial No. 520,229

2 Claims. (01. 150-42) This invention relates to a case, more par ticularly of the type which is to be carried in the pocket of the user, such as a cigarette case.

Heretofore cases of the character here described were usually formed of some stiff material having two sections hinged together with a clasp at the free edges of the sections so as to hold the sections in closed position. Hinging and clasping actions both usually required some metal parts and considerable workmanship either by machine or by hand so that the metal parts may be fashioned in the shape desired.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a case which will have a minimum of metal parts and which will have such metal parts as are used of a simple and inexpensive construction both from the standpoint of formation and of necessary assembly operations.

Another object of this invention is to provide a case of a flexible material which will serve as a hinge for joining the two parts together and which by a simple frictional engagement of other parts may be held firmly in closed position,

A further object of the invention is to provide a case which will perform the function of holding cigarettes, or like articles, and which may be easily closed and easily opened for access thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction which will be thin and not bulky and which may be comfortably carried in the pocket of the user.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide telescoping frictional parts which may fit one within the other and provide suflicient frictional engagement to hold the sections closed.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the case in open position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the case in closed position; v

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the lip forming means used for holding the sections in closed position;

Fig. 4 is a section on a greatly enlarged scale on line 44 of Fig. 2 with the center portion removed and the pocket empty;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but on line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmental detail view on a still larger scale and showing the construction of the case.

In proceeding with this invention I provide a piece of flexible material which is folded upon itself to provide two sections in hinged relation. This material is shaped to form each of the sections so as to contain the articles for which the case is designed. Each of the sections is also provided with a lip extending toward the opposite section. The two lips being of such size as to telescope one with the other with sufficient friction so that the case will be held in closed position when swung about the hinge of the sections.

With reference to the drawing I provide an outer flexible sheet of material Ill as shown in Fig. 4 which forms one ply and an inner flexible sheet of material .II' which forms another ply. The plies are usually leather. These plies are folded upon themselves as at I 2 so that the main body portions of each of the sections [3 and M will extend in substantially parallel planes. Each of the sections is stiffened between the plies l0 and H by some reinforcing material such as l5 (Fig. 6) which may be formed of metal, fiber, cardboard or the like. This stiffening material l5 will extend short of the fold so as to leave the fold l2 flexible.

A frame member designated generally ll which I consists of a ribbon-like strip of stiff material such as steel is bent as at l8 and H! to provide a U-shape form with legs 20 and a bridging portion 2|. This frame is positioned between the plies l0 and II, so that the ply ll forms a cover for the member I! and also serves to hold it in place, providing a lip 22 on the section extending toward the opposite section l3. The lip member 22 as shown on the section [4 is substantially duplicated on the section 13 except that this lip member now designated 22' will be of a size slightly smaller to just fit within the frame or lip member 22. The lip member 22' is held in position also by the ply ll of the material which also extends about it and securely holds it in position.

The plies of material at their peripheral edges are bound together by a tube 23 (see Fig. 6) rounded or bent at its corners 24 (Fig. 1) and slotted to receive the edges of the sections as at 25 (Fig. 6), the edges of the tube being bent toward each other tightly into engagement with the peripheral edges to bind them together and itself be bound thereon. The tubes extend short of the fold l2 so as to permit free hinging action.

Each of the sections I3 and I have their marginal edges 26 which are located outwardly from the lip or toward the peripheral edge defieoted as at 21 (see Figs. 4 and 5) so that their edges extend toward the opposite section, which direction I refer to as inwardly. This may be accomplished by pressing each of the sections so as to deform the material and Stifiening portion thereof or by deflection of the stiffening member prior to its being positioned between the plies I0 and H. -By reason of this deflection when the sections are folded as at l2, which fold hinges them together, the frame members or lips 22, 22' will telescope one within the other with a frictional engagement sufiic'ient to hold the sections in closed position while the edges will contact as shown at 28 in Fig. 2 forming a tight joint and a case which is thin and not bulky.

In order to receive and hold cigarettes in a case of this character a pocket 29 as shown in Fig. 1 is provided which may consist of a strip of leather or some suitable material provided with gussets 30 at either side thereof and agusset 31 at the bottom connecting this strip with the body of the section in which it is mounted. This strip will extend the full length of the section inwardly .soft frictional resilient surface which serves to effectively hold the two sections securely in folded position, while also permitting the sections to be easily opened by the insertion of the thumb nail between the rounded portion 23 at the edge so as to pry the sections apart.

I claim:

1. A case comprising an outer and inner ply of flexible material, foldable along its mid portion to present the sections on either side of the fold in generally parallel planes, means between the plies to stiifen each section on either side of and extending short of said fold, a stiff metal lip on each section located between said plies and spaced from the peripheral edge thereof and extending inwardly toward the other section and covered by the inner ply of material, the marginal edge of each section outwardly of said lip being also deflected inwardly toward the other section with reference to the body of the section and contacting 'each other when said sections are in closed position and confining said lips within the sections, one of said lips being of a size to frictionally telescope within the other and provide enough friction to hold the sections in closed position.

. 2.. A case comprising an. outer and. an inner ply of flexible material, foldable along its mid portion to present the sections on either side of the fold in generally parallel planes, means between the plies to stiffen each section on either side of andextending short of said fold, a still lipon each section spaced from the peripheral edge thereof and extending inwardly toward the other section, the marginal edge of each section outwardly of said lip being also deflectedinwardly toward the other section with reference to the body of the section and contacting each other when said sections are in closed position and confining said lips within the sections, one of said lips being of a size to frictionally telescope within the other and provide enough friction to hold the sections in closed positiomand a substantially rigid tube extending along the peripheral edges of each section for binding the edges of the plies.

ARTHUR J. SCHWARTZ. 

